Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

Massive vote-buying noted in Bicol

Posted on October 28, 2013

LEGAZPI CITY, (PNA) -– Massive and rampant vote-buying was noted in the six Bicol provinces and seven cities involving amounts ranging from a minimum of P20 for councilors and P500 for barangay chairmen.

The Central Bank Bicol regional office here confirmed that massive withdrawals of P20 and P50 bills were reported by banks as early as last week, fueling speculation that the money would be used for the barangay elections to buy votes.

Candidates identified with incumbent local mayors, governors and congressmen had their edge as they reportedly got better financial support in addition to their own resources to win the elections.

“It’s a highly bastardized and polluted election, knowing a barangay is apolitical,” commented former mayor for 20 years Jose Arcangel Jr. of Jovellar town in Albay and now a resident of Legazpi City.

Arcangel, who once headed the local-based non-government organization Pipol Against Graft and Corruption, said Monday’s barangay elections are seriously made being a playground by candidates who are idle, jobless and character-tainted whose credentials are simply as voters able to read and write and whose fallback is to join the barangay council for honorarium as the simplest way to earn a living.

“It’s long overdue that barangay leaders should be exempt from elections, citing government’s heavy expenses, time, effort and election troubles. Barangays should be run by managers and like teachers, should be insulated from politics and corruption,” said Arcangel.

Interviewed teachers manning polling centers said it’s discouraging to know what comprises the barangay candidates today, that is why many did not have anymore interest to vote, saying it was a useless exercise.

The teachers said prominent and able professionals in the barangays reportedly would not want to join the barangay political exercise unless the system is changed and politics is purely out of it.

Chief Supt. Victor Deona Bicol police regional director, however, said despite the report of alleged massive and rampant vote-buying, Bicol elections remained peaceful.

According to Arcangel, in Legazpi alone, even independent bets without any known resources have joined the barangay elections because of the honorarium even they have to borrow money and resort to loans to court voters.

A complaint reaching radio stations said that in Catanduanes, one bet for punong barangay had resorted to giving as high as P1,000 on selected voters to ensure his victory.

Barangay 15 in Legazpi City, a radio report said, has a candidate for barangay chief that gave as high as P500 while barangay councils, a minimum of P50.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme